Top 10 Backdrops for Portrait Photography

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Those of you who follow my blog and twitter feed, see me using Lastolite Collapsable Backdrops on the majority of my Portrait Sittings. Here are my top 10 backdrops which I recommend for headshots & portraits. As a travelling portraitist collapsible backgrounds are a quick and easy solution. They take seconds to set up and pack away making them equally convenient to pop-open in offices & clients homes.
I enjoy shooting portraits with the collapsible backdrops. As a one man band, I can easily accomplish the background set-ups by myself since they fold and unfold like a giant reflector. They are easy to carry on public transport, which is a blessing. The majority of my sittings take place in London. As a regular passenger on the London Underground they are easy to stow in a large suitcase.
As well as single sided backdrops, Lastolite offer reversible backdrops giving you more options. The backdrops I most frequently us are the Black/White, White/Light Gray Urban Collapsible Background Smoke/Concrete and Vintage backdrops such as Tobacco/Olive.
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About Rory
Winner of the Portrait of Britain in 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. Lewis is a dedicated portrait photographer who has spent over a decade capturing many of the world’s most recognised faces. Sitters have included the likes of William Shatner, David Cameron, Sir Derek Jacobi, Iain Glen and Natalie Dormer. Rory’s images have been exhibited on both sides of the Atlantic, and several of his iconic portraits have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London.
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[@kenlewphoto]

Rory this is an amazing video and thank you for having examples with your beautiful work. I came here to see how big these backdrops were and I left with more knowledge and respect for your vision. Thank you for sharing and for making this video! It’s most appreciated!

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Ken.

[@gauravkapadia17]

Stunning portraits. I had to subscribe.

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you.

[@gauravkapadia17]

@@RoryLewis No worries Rory. May I know at what focal length you shot the most of those portraits and is your camera at subject's eye level? Cheers.

[@DavidLaslett]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks very much Rory.

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you.

[@richardsisk1770]

Excellent. Thank you 😊

[@DavidJColbran]

Really useful video, thanks. I've been looking to move away from paper for a while and have gone with Lastolite as a system. The magnetic holder for stands is brilliant and the backdrops are well built and super light. A massive improvement for my business !

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you David. Lastolite backdrop are the best.

[@johnkenny9832]

That portrait of Karl Pilkington! Thanks for linking the gear, particularly the magnetic hanger. Massively helpful and informative as usual!

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you John.

[@LilySandersChangemaker]

Rory, I use 2 of these when I have to jump on Eyewitness News LIVE...the days of going into the studio are kind of over when it comes to the newsroom. Love the black one for headshots! So fabulous.

[@TailoredTechnique]

love that red

[@TailoredTechnique]

We to purchase an saw some reviews about the wrinkles. Is that a big problem w the collapsing ones?

[@brownbutterflyy1058]

Thank you!! Amazing video! ❤️❤️❤️

[@andrealfred5217]

Oh my!!!!! Those backdrops are absolutely gorgeous....Which one to get first for all around?

[@RoryLewis]

Definitely the Olive! manfrotto.sjv.io/N1keN

[@mikijava9575]

Wonderful content. Really inspiring to see how you work. These colors enhance your subjects. I suspect that you would do wonderful portraits with just a white bedsheet.📷

[@nxtstd1075]

love it, I'm open my studio and this video really helped me out, thanks. also I like the umbrella light..

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you and best of luck.

[@marcpayne9117]

Thanks Rory that helped me a lot mate.

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Marc.

[@curtisclement]

Saved this video for my GAS category. I know how these backdrops work and I have a few of them but I’ve also been using the westcott brand also for home use but it does hit home when shooting on location.

[@RoryLewis]

The Magnetic Backdrop Stand is a must! amzn.to/3loBszW​

[@curtisclement]

@@RoryLewis thank you for taking the time to respond with a link but I already own one.

[@chadkbrignall22]

Great stuff Rory! I feel like I am going around and around trying to figure out what backdrop to go with a more permanent style or portable. Lastolites art exactly cheap and add t the long list of expensive shit us photographers require

[@stefanpop6091]

This was helpful!

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Stefan.

[@charliegreen1989]

Thanks for this Rory just what I needed. I’ve been wondering what collapsible to get next. I do love the Tobacco and Olive one, always been a favourite of mine so will probably be that one.

[@RoryLewis]

The Tobacco & Olive is essential to any studio! As mentioned it is two great backdrops in one. This would be my recommendation manfrotto.sjv.io/N1keN.

[@charliegreen1989]

@@RoryLewis that’s the one I’ve been looking at so nice.

[@clarenceshelton5113]

Sir, What kind of camera are you using and how detailed are your workshops? You were discussing the backdrops that you use, but all I could see was the beautiful images of your shooting. Great job and well done.

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Clarence. Please see some links below you might find helpful. Online Masterclass Recording. www.rorylewis.studio/photography-workshops/online-masterclass-recording Mentorship. www.rorylewis.studio/mentorship Portrait Photography Masterclasses. www.rorylewis.studio/workshops One-to-One Studio Photography Tuitions. www.rorylewis.studio/onetoone-photography-training Have a lovely day.

[@musanetesakupwanya1050]

Hi Rory! Thanks for this awesome video 😁 a question if I might ask... Which background works best for black skin? Im sure lighting is a major part of it all, but apart from a white background, I'd like your opinion on which one of these different backdrops work. Again, great video!

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Musanete. Please see some links below you might find helpful. Online Masterclass Recording. www.rorylewis.studio/photography-workshops/online-masterclass-recording Mentorship. www.rorylewis.studio/mentorship Portrait Photography Masterclasses. www.rorylewis.studio/workshops One-to-One Studio Photography Tuitions. www.rorylewis.studio/onetoone-photography-training Have a lovely day.

[@broskies2598]

Great video

[@davidpalermo4695]

Can the black/white backdrop also be used instead of VFlats- to place on either side of a model to reflect or absorb light like a VFlat would. This would be a nice portable solution rather than carrying bulky VFlats.

[@kenlewphoto]

I was just thinking about that. They can be clamped from the back

[@davidpalermo4695]

@@kenlewphoto I travel to clients homes to do portraits and v-flats are a bit large for my car... the collapsible backdrops fold very nicely!

[@kenlewphoto]

@@davidpalermo4695 that was my dilemma too. Too large. It’s not till I started researching that I thought of this idea too. But then I found a couple other options that aren’t as wide. But I went ahead and got a Manfrotto backdrop too haha

[@zedbleu4444]

Hello Sir, I'm planning on buying two of these beautiful backdrops: concrete/smoke and ink/sage. About the concrete one, do you think it can be turned upside-down even though the concrete texture seems to be lit from the top ? I ask because this background seems to offers so many possibilities depending on its orientation and where you place the subject in front of it... There are "zones" that can be exploited in many ways... but does the concrete texture allow to play with all these or does it limit the way you place the backdrop and the ligths ? Thank you for this very good video!

[@marcomark8]

Can you tell me what size soft box that is in inches?

[@timogustafsson]

What if you want to take full body photos what do you use then?

[@Bushy-73]

Oh my I'm spoilt for choice, ps just subd to you

[@vivekshinde4825]

I want to buy this background

[@frostybe3r]

Currently I have an incredibly cheap Calumet paper backdrop, I'm wondering if I should invest in the, 'Manfrotto EzyFrame Vintage Background - Pewter' instead.

[@RoryLewis]

Try getting that backdrop on the tube hehe. Manfrotto backdrops are classical, beautiful and easy to transport.

[@frostybe3r]

@@RoryLewis I mean my stands are from eBay, cheap crap, need something more substantial lol.

[@RoryLewis]

@@frostybe3r Heavy Duty is best see these stands amzn.to/3KgCfyZ I have 4 of these for lighting and backdrop support

[@frostybe3r]

@@RoryLewis Ah cool, I'm really feeling that fairly expensive EzyFrame, in the midst of redoing my entire room.

[@PedroGameiro]

The Black and white Lastolite backdrop whitch size you recomend? 5x6 or 6x7'' thanks

[@RoryLewis]

I’ve both sizes for different purposes.

[@PedroGameiro]

@@RoryLewis can you explain in what situation use one over the other? please :) so i get the feeling

[@RoryLewis]

I tend to use 5x6 for headshot/ portrait sessions and 6x7 for half body/ group shots.

[@PedroGameiro]

@@RoryLewis thanks a lot

[@rickshapiro63]

Can you share where you purchase these from?

[@RoryLewis]

Please see the link below. www.rorylewis.studio/lastolite-by-manfrotto

[@aldrianalfonso5638]

where are the links?

[@RoryLewis]

Thank you Aldrian. Please see some links below you might find helpful. Online Masterclass Recording. www.rorylewis.studio/photography-workshops/online-masterclass-recording Mentorship. www.rorylewis.studio/mentorship Portrait Photography Masterclasses. www.rorylewis.studio/workshops One-to-One Studio Photography Tuitions. www.rorylewis.studio/onetoone-photography-training Have a lovely day.

[@cameronmma9576]

Where can I get these in the UK?

[@RoryLewis]

Please see the link below. www.rorylewis.studio/lastolite-by-manfrotto

[@cameronmma9576]

@@RoryLewis thank you mate